As we approach the COP28 UN climate summit, the debates surrounding what we must do versus what we are willing to do intensify. In the meantime, our planet continues to heat up. The recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report highlights the urgency of the climate crisis and the need for real solutions. However, in a world marked by geopolitical and economic divisions, this task becomes even more daunting.

One of the primary challenges confronting COP28 is bridging the implementation gap between negotiated agreements and real-world action. Previous conferences have set ambitious goals, but the translation of these goals into tangible policies and actions on the ground has been insufficient. COP28 must foster mechanisms that ensure effective implementation of commitments. Additionally, countries, especially those in the Global South, should be provided with adequate financial and technical support to enable them to implement their climate plans effectively.

The task of addressing climate change is further complicated by geopolitical and economic divisions. Global cooperation is vital and countries must recognize the interconnected nature of the climate crisis, as the impacts of climate change do not respect national borders.

National climate plans, known as Nationally Determined Contributions, need to be coherent with the global goals set by the Paris Agreement. However, many countries’ actions fall short of what they commit to. Therefore, G7 leaders recently called on parties to increase their ambition and enhance their NDCs before COP28.

By mobilizing the resources, expertise and innovation of the private sector, COP28 can unlock significant opportunities

Nickolay E. Mladenov

National efforts alone are not sufficient to tackle this crisis. The private sector plays a crucial role in driving climate action. COP28 needs to encourage greater private sector engagement and investment in sustainable solutions. By mobilizing the resources, expertise and innovation of the private sector, COP28 can unlock significant opportunities for transformative change.

Marginalized communities, indigenous peoples, women and youth are often disproportionately affected by climate change. Their perspectives and concerns must be central in our discussions and decision-making processes. Achieving climate justice means acknowledging historical responsibilities and ensuring that climate action is inclusive, fair and respects the rights of all people.

Furthermore, it is essential to recognize the importance of nature-based solutions in our fight against climate change. Reforestation, ecosystem restoration and sustainable land management all offer significant potential for both mitigation and adaptation.

Finally, we must recognize that climate change is not just an environmental issue but intersects with various social, economic and environmental factors. Poverty, gender inequality, biodiversity loss and other interconnected challenges are exacerbated by climate change.

As the world prepares for the COP28 conference in Dubai later this year, the UAE carries the huge responsibility as the host nation to help ensure the climate implementation gap is closed. And while that challenge is daunting, the UAE, with its ambitious climate targets, diplomatic relations and experience in delivering on sustainability initiatives, can make a significant impact. The nation’s notable investments in diverse energy sources, beyond oil and gas, exemplify a commitment to sustainable solutions. Its strategic geographic location and exceptional relations with African and Asian countries present a unique opportunity to foster a genuinely inclusive dialogue that transcends regional biases.

Recently, Sultan Al-Jaber, who will lead the climate talks, has been criticized by those who argue that his role as CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company represents a conflict of interest with his COP28 position. But the reality is that a deep knowledge of the energy sector is a vital qualification for anyone leading negotiations on how the world will transition from fossil fuels to renewables.

As someone who has worked with Al-Jaber for some time, it is clear to me that he possesses the qualities and experience necessary to lead the global climate change negotiations. In fact, well before assuming his role at ADNOC, Al-Jaber had already served as chairman of Masdar, a sustainable energy and development company, established well before others embraced renewables.

The UAE, with its commitment to sustainability and experience in renewable energy, plays a significant role as the host nation

Nickolay E. Mladenov

He can engage with diverse stakeholders, including fossil fuel industries, to find common ground and drive sustainable solutions. He also has a strong track record in spearheading sustainability initiatives, having championed renewable projects and clean technologies. As the UAE’s special envoy for climate change, Al-Jaber engaged with international partners and represented the UAE in global climate discussions.

While he may not be a diplomat in the traditional sense, given the state of global climate action, surely we need someone who can bridge gaps and bring a culture of innovation to a COP process that has long been criticized for falling short of setting ambitious targets and implementing effective measures to address the magnitude of the climate crisis.

Al-Jaber has clearly stated that “we need to match what is agreed in the negotiated text with concrete action in the real world.” This reflects the understanding that, while the COP negotiations process is crucial, it is also essential to translate the agreed-upon commitments into tangible action on the ground.

The challenges posed by climate change demand collective action, inclusive dialogue and effective implementation of commitments. By bridging the gap between negotiated agreements and real-world action, aligning policies at various levels of governance, engaging the private sector and fostering an inclusive environment, we can drive transformative change.

The UAE, with its commitment to sustainability and experience in renewable energy, plays a significant role as the host nation. Al-Jaber’s expertise and dedication to sustainability make him a valuable asset in climate change negotiations. By uniting diverse stakeholders and translating commitments into concrete action, we can work toward a sustainable future for our planet and future generations. It is time to turn words into meaningful change and address the magnitude of the climate crisis together.

By Nickolay E. Mladenov is the Director General of the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi and a Visiting Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. He is a former UN Under Secretary General and Foreign Minister of Bulgaria. Twitter: @nmladenov / Arab News

L’article Bridging the climate change implementation gap at COP28 est apparu en premier sur World Opinion | Alternative Média.

An annual Ramadan appeal to help displaced refugees receive lifesaving support and aid has seen people across the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia make the highest number of donations in the region, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has told Al Arabiya English

For the third year, the UNHCR launched the ‘Every Second Counts’ fundraising campaign as the Islamic world marks the holy month of Ramadan.

The UN agency launched the campaign while calling for greater support for millions of refugees and internally displaced persons in low-income countries hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Houssam Chahine, UNHCR’s chief of private sector partnerships in MENA, told Al Arabiya English that the campaign has seen a flood of generosity from residents across the GCC.

« Every year, UNHCR appeals to the public during the month of giving and generosity to help raise awareness and funds for refugees and internally displaced people in need,” he said.

“The ‘Every Second Counts’ campaign focuses on the incredible impact individuals can create within seconds, in the lives of refugee and displaced families whose lives turned upside down within moments and who have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety.”

The campaign aims to raise funds through donations including Zakat and Sadaqah, to help provide lifesaving support such as shelter, food, clean water and monthly cash assistance, to the most vulnerable refugee and internally displaced families from Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan, Nigeria, countries in the Sahel region, and Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

In the Muslim faith, Zakat is the obligatory annual payment required of every Muslim, while Sadaqah is a kind gesture made with the intention of helping others.

“We are grateful to the outpouring of support shown by the people of the UAE and KSA, with those who have been forcibly displaced,” said Chahine.

“People in the UAE, followed by KSA, rank highest in the number of donations made to UNHCR’s Refugee Zakat Fund, which is testament to their empathy and generosity, and trust in our ability to deliver 100 percent of their Zakat contributions to eligible displaced families.”

COVID-19 worsens refugee crisis

Chahine said COVID-19 has created a new emergency – on top of existing ones – for the millions of refugees around the world.

“The pandemic has compounded existing challenges for displaced people, such as poverty, food insecurity, discrimination, border closures, protection risks such as domestic violence and sexual abuse, and access to livelihoods and education.”

A Syrian refugee receives the Coronavirus vaccine, at a medical center in the Zaatari refugee camp, 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of the Jordanian capital Amman on February 15, 2021. (File photo: AFP)

“The COVID-19 induced recession is expected to push between 88 million and 115 million people into extreme poverty. While precise measures are difficult, estimates by the World Bank and UNHCR point to a large and disproportionate impact on already vulnerable people, such as the forcibly displaced.”

In September 2020, a UNHCR assessment among 1,579 refugee and asylum-seeker households of different nationalities in Egypt showed that 42 percent of the respondents had lost their job and 98 percent reported lack of financial means to access basic hygiene items.

In Jordan, about four out of five Syrian refugees (close to 80 percent) were living under the national poverty line even before the pandemic, surviving on about $3 a day or less. While new assessments are currently underway, the impact of the pandemic on refugees in terms of loss of income and taking on debt was clearly severe.

The situation is even more difficult for female-headed households in Lebanon: A far higher proportion of female-headed households (68 per cent) than male-headed households (13 per cent) are using coping strategies categorized as “crisis level” or “emergency level. »

Syrian children play in the Zaatari refugee camp, 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of the Jordanian capital Amman on February 15, 2021.

Crisis coping strategies include marriage of children under the age of 18, selling productive assets, withdrawing children from school, and reducing expenditure on education and health. Emergency coping strategies include begging, accepting high-risk jobs or sending children to work.

“The donations received will help UNHCR in providing lifesaving support to vulnerable refugees and displaced families through the distribution of cash assistance and goods, allowing them to address basic needs including shelter, food, education, healthcare and debt repayments,” said Chahine.

In 2020, the fund has helped 2.1 million beneficiaries in 13 countries including Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, Mauritania, Niger, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, through Zakat & Sadaqah donations.

Despite the growth that the Refugee Zakat Fund has witnessed due to generous contributions by individuals and institutional partners, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has widened the gap between the needs of displaced families and funds received, said Chahine.

“Ramadan is a time of reflection and generosity, and a great opportunity to show solidarity with the world’s forcibly displaced especially during a time where it is needed more than ever,” said Chahine. “We are always surprised by the incredible outpouring of support and kindness that people have towards refugees, and more so during this Holy month and ask people to continue standing with refugees and internally displaced people during these difficult times. No donation, or act of solidarity is too small. »

Zakat and Sadqah donations to refugees in urgent need can be given now via zakat.unhcr.org and UNHCR’s newly launched Zakat mobile application “GiveZakat”.

World Opinions News – Al Arabiya English

L’article UAE, Saudi Arabia lead fundraising effort in Ramadan refugee appeal: UNHCR chief est apparu en premier sur World Opinion | Alternative Média.